I didn't expect as many respones as I got about kids having arthritis. So I just wanted to make a separate post to tell everyone what I have been told by my adult rheumatologist and a pediatric rheumatologist.
First off most GPs and family docs will tell that arthritis is not inherited. They are half right. If you really have questions go to a pediatric rheumy. They are hard to find---but please search. My son goes to one--the only one in my whole state. Adult rheumys are not the same--they are not equipped to handle children. Don't get me wrong--I absolutely love mine but she even said--no children. Pediatric rheumatology is a specialty like regular rheumys but they learn about the childrens body not adults--so go there.
Back to the inherited thing--NO arthritis isn't technically inherited but you can carry the genes that make you prone to it and so therefore you can pass this on to your children. If you have arthritis--will your children be more prone to develop it than parents that don't carry the gene????? YES
A family doc and an internal doc told me NO for years--but guess what--my second son got arthritis and when I took him to a pediatric rheumy she said what they had been telling me was bologna!! Now I am not trying to step on anyones toes or upset people but please please if you have worries or concerns don't take a regular docs opinion or advice. That again is what specialists are for. I persisted when I saw things in my young son that I just knew were not just "growing pains". They documented in my sons chart when he was 13 months old that "mother is concerned with childs walking--she thinks he might have arthritis. She herself has suffered with this disease she was 18 months old. Reassured her that child doesn't have it and she could not have passed it on to him" " Mother is still worried" "told her not to and we will check him again in 6 months" That my friends is word for word what this idiot doctor wrote!!!!!!!! Guess what??? At 2 years old my son fell outside like all little boys do and his leg swelled to size of a bike helmet. It would not go down no matter what we did--ice ,resting, everything. We brought him to the emergency room because we thought maybe he had actually broken it.
Luck was on my side that night--a doctor who was doing her intern there and specializing in geriatrics saw his X-ray and took me aside and showed me what she saw!!
Extensive degenerative bone damage due to guess what---ARTHRITIS!! He was only 2. If that stupid doc listened to me back when he was 13 months maybe we could of slowed it down a little bit. We will never know but now the damage is done. He had endure 3 DAYS of getting his knee drained!!! That means a huge needle going into his little knee every day for 3 DAYS!!
Then after 2 weeks when it finally went down--he had to get a cortisone injection in his knee.
I am sorry it might sound like I am getting mad--but writing this is like reliving it all again.
I HAD TO HOLD DOWN MY LITTLE 2 YEAR OLD PRECIOUS BABY WHILE HE LOOKED UP AT ME SCREAMING AND THEY PUT THAT NEEDLE IN HIM AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN.
I never want anyone to go through that with their child. He wanted me to have them stop and protect him but I could not even explain to a 2 year old that they are actually helping him. As he looked up at me. I cannot even explain how heart-wrenching that experience was for me and my husband. I wanted to get on that table and take all the needles for him.
So please please go with your gut instinct. Mothers are hardly ever wrong when it comes to their babies.
We have to remember something---doctors are not GOD--they can sometimes be wrong or not as educated and up on stuff as we give them credit for. Search around and find someone that specializes in this.
FOR PAM S. I have to tell you that my son who has JRA has his eyes checked every 4 MONTHS for eye problems that can stem from the JRA. I was also checked when I was young for the same thing on a regular basis. This is totally one of the things that can happen in young children with arthritis. And a rheumy will have your child checked on a regular basis--its like labwork. Please please go to a good rheumy and get those referrals. It is so important--it is very dangerous for their eyes.
I hope this wasn't too long to read but I needed to get this out there. There isn't enough about arthritis and children.
Everyone take care,
Marcy ( and Lucas ! )
Hi Mary,
Wow, incredible post....thankyou.
Oscar also sees the ophthalmologist every 4 mos since he was diagnosed with Iritis (3+ yrs ago) and + ANA. The Ophthalmologist says he will continue to follow him every 4 mos all through his teenhood even if there is no recurrance. We just saw him 2 days ago, and he still feels this is JRA related.
We have made an apt with a PRD out of our ins network. He saw the PDR within our ins 2 years ago and he told me that he could tell me with certainty that this was not JRA or Lupus. When I went down the list of symptoms starting from age 2 1/2 and asked if these were all to be taken a separated issues and not together as symptoms of JRA, he did not answer. Then I mentioned that another Dr had said it could be JRA or Lupus, but below diagnostic levels, he told me that this could very well be true and that it may go on for 10 more years like this with no dx. This was only minutes after he had told me with such certainty that it was not JRA or Lupus.
We can't really afford to go out of network so I had to make the apt in June. We are saving up the money to go. My husband is going to call today and see if they will accept payments. Oscar's knees have been very bad recently. They are very stiff in the morning and hurt most of the time. He has been falling down alot. He does'nt want to be different so he tries so hard to hide the pain and do what everyone else is doing
I know I may be wrong, but I do feel strongly that this could be JRA. I hope it is not but, either way, I need have trust and confidence in who I am hearing it from.
My love and best wishes to you and your family, Wayney and Bastian , Tori and her little one and all the other mommies here too,
Pam
Marcy,
Sorry for the misspelling of your name forgot the c. Poor editing.
Pam
I feel like you're being here is such a blessing at this time. Wayney has been worried sick about Sabastian lately and although we've all been here to listen and respond supportively I think she has finally found someone that can actually offer some first hand knowledge and advice from a mother's stand point. Looks like there's several other's who need your experience and advice as well. What a important part of this group you will surely become. I sure hope you stick around.
There's a reason for everything that happends in life; just like there's a reason we all ended up here. I persoanlly don't think it's just because I have RA. I've had RA for more than 11 years....but I've only just recently found all of you here. I can't even remember how I stumbled upon this group. I wasn't searching for an internet support group that's for sure.
I know my comments are totally unrelated and neither of my children seem to be affected (thank goodness!!) but I just got this overwhelming need to share my feelings on this.
This has helped immensely with making me not feel paranoid.I meant what I said Marcy; we're very grateful for your knowledge...we all have something to contribute here; even the new folks who have recently been dignosed.
Things have changed so much since you were first dignosed...even since I was first dignosed 11 years ago. We all bring valuable knowledge and experience here to share and I persoanlly am thankful to have a place to come and discuss important issues that directly effect me on a daily basis.
My only regret is that I have not had the support of this group all along. All of you newbies are so fortunate to have found this type of suppport early.